Reality TV show could increase voter turnout

There is a shortage of novel reality TV shows in America. “The Amazing Race” has circumnavigated the globe more times than Magellan would have thought possible in a lifetime. There are enough babies from “16 & Pregnant” to populate a small country. “Fear Factor” is returning, yet again. Same old, same old. Americans need something new, something fresh and something relevant that will attract a vast and devoted audience such as young adults. How about “18 & Voting”?

This show would focus on the perspectives of newly enfranchised voters — young adults — as they participate in elections. It would feature a diverse pool of participants from all sorts of backgrounds and ethnicities from throughout the country, accurately depicting various aspects and perspectives of the young American voter. Through the show, the participants — and viewers — would learn more about the election process, and hopefully be encouraged to vote.

If “Jersey Shore” encourages partying and “The Amazing Race” encourages travel, why not a show to encourage us to do our civic duty?

But should it really take a reality TV show to promote voting? Are Americans that unmotivated to vote? Perhaps such a show is not necessary for presidential elections; the voter turnout increased by three million from 2004 to the 2008 presidential election and hit 70 percent. However, turnout in midterm elections could use a boost.

In the 2010 midterm congressional elections, turnout dropped to 41 percent. It gets worse: The turnout for the 2011 general election when we elected local officials in November was 22 percent for Dauphin County and 23 percent for Cumberland County.

On one level, these statistics are confusing. In municipal elections, voters are the closest to their representatives. It is generally understood, if there are more people voting in an election, like the presidential election, any one vote will have less of an impact than votes cast at state and municipal elections, where each vote has a larger impact.

Voters have a better chance of influencing a cause and having their voice heard in the municipal elections. If this is true, why aren’t voters more motivated in local elections? Do voters want to be represented less? Of course not. The decrease might result in part from a lack of education in civics. The Intercollegiate Studies Institute gave a 60-question civic literacy exam to 28,000 American college students. The average score was 54 percent.

Trip Peters

Our government needs its citizens and voters to be educated in civics and government. The Founding Fathers believed that the source of political power resides with the people, and they directed the arguments for the adoption of the Constitution to the people. We are now challenged to continue educating one another about our government and how to participate in it.

Methods of communicating change through time. As crude as it might sound, reality shows attract major attention. They have millions of viewers and people talk about them. A show such as “18 & Voting” would educate viewers and encourage them to vote, featuring young people who are newly registered voters as well as those actively participating in campaigns.

It’s not hard to imagine that “18 & Voting” could inspire Americans to vote with the same devotion given to their favorite primetime show. It might be a little different than what our Founding Fathers had in mind, but they also did not envision electronic voting machines or people other than white landowners at the polls.

TRIP PETERS is a senior at Cumberland Valley High School and a Patriot-News Davenport Fellow.